It was already dusk, with a crimson sky spreading across the horizon.
Zhu Changle lazily stretched on horseback, remarking with some feeling, "There's one thing Doctor Tang said that I particularly agree with. Qiuli, can you guess which one?"
"Yunbei is a wonderful place, blessed with talent and natural beauty."
Zhu Changle rode her horse closer and said in a low voice, "Wouldn't you say we're of one mind, perfectly in sync?"
Such a suggestive phrase spoken so casually by her not only lacked any hint of intimacy or ambiguity, but Qiuli even felt he never wanted to hear that expression again. He squeezed his horse's flanks, urging it to gallop, and overtook Little Tail to the front.
Little Tail wouldn't stand for that. Without Zhu Changle even having to spur it on, it quickened its pace. The two horses very eagerly raced each other for a stretch.
Zhu Changle dismounted and patted Little Tail's rump, encouraging it, "You two go ahead and race each other however you like. Whoever produces a foal first wins."
"What if it really brings back a pregnant mare?"
"Then so be it," Zhu Changle said, skipping alongside Qiuli, her words completely nonsensical. "As long as they can tell which one... you know... belongs to whom."
Zhu Changle glanced around. Good, Mother wasn't here. Safe!
"Ouch!"
Zhu Changle rubbed her head and looked up angrily. "Qiuli, let me tell you, I'll definitely find a chance to throw away that fan of yours. I'm very experienced at this, if you don't believe me, ask my big brother how many of his things I've thrown away."
"Try it?"
"I will, just you wait." Zhu Changle tossed her head and ran inside, ignoring Qiuli. At this time, Father should be off work!
Zhu Maonian had indeed finished work. Lady Zhang was helping him change into comfortable clothes while asking, "Have you figured out which family that young Master Qiu is from?"
"Why do you ask?"
"I just feel he's getting too close to Changle," Lady Zhang sat down after handing her husband a cup of hot tea. "I can tell his background must be quite good."
Zhu Maonian lowered his head to drink his tea. He wasn't completely clueless. Going through all the possible families, there was indeed one that had a child who became mute, and the age seemed about right too. If he had remained mute it might have been fine, but now that he could suddenly speak again, who knew if it was a blessing or a curse.
"Father, Father, are you here?"
Hearing this voice, both husband and wife smiled. Lady Zhang complained in a low voice, "She's been drinking since early morning. Even if no one says anything when she drinks at home, she still insists on going out, as if she's afraid people won't know the magistrate's daughter is a drunkard. You should talk to her."
"She doesn't listen to what you say, how could she listen to me?" Zhu Maonian put down his teacup. "Let her be, as long as she's happy."
"Of course I want her to be happy, but I also want everyone to speak well of her. I don't want her to be hurt by idle gossip. She doesn't care, but it breaks my heart." Lady Zhang glared at the door that was secretly being opened a crack. "Eavesdropping on your parents, have you no manners at all?"
"I announced myself from far away," Zhu Changle squeezed her head in, looking pitiful. "I didn't hear anything I shouldn't have. Mother, don't be so fierce!"
Lady Zhang couldn't stay angry anymore and opened her arms.
Zhu Changle giggled and threw herself into her mother's embrace, nuzzling against her. Where her mother couldn't see, she gave her father a triumphant smile, silently asking: Aren't I clever?
Zhu Maonian couldn't help but smile. This little imp knew exactly how to make people happy.
Lady Zhang stroked her daughter's back from top to bottom, then patted her and asked, "Did you have something to discuss with your father?"
"Yes," Zhu Changle nodded obediently. "I've verified some information I need to tell Father about."
"You've really become capable," Lady Zhang pulled her away, seeing her messy hair, she simply stood up and made her sit down, starting to retie her hair while saying, "Madam Luo came to see me today. The gist of what she said was that Yunbei is poor and quite xenophobic. She suggested I go out less, and if I need to buy anything, I should ask her. She'll have someone accompany me. Oh, and she also said she could help find people to deliver things we need to chew, and that the price would definitely be fair. I agreed."
This was where Lady Zhang showed her intelligence. She seemed to never ask about outside matters, but she wasn't truly ignorant of everything. In fact, she could cooperate quite well behind the scenes.
Zhu Maonian nodded, "That's indeed what should be done. You keep her steady."
Zhu Changle winked at her father, "Father, isn't Mother the best helpmate?"
"Of course."
"Mother, Mother, Father says you're a worthy helpmate!"
This single sentence made both of them blush. Zhu Maonian's beard helped conceal it, and his complexion made it less noticeable. Lady Zhang, however, with her fair and well-maintained skin, had her face flushed with a rosy glow that made her look even more charming than usual. Zhu Maonian couldn't help but look a few more times, which only made Lady Zhang feel more bashful, and her hands became a bit rougher in their movements.
"Mother, have mercy!" Zhu Changle quickly raised her hands to save her scalp. It hurt so much!
Lady Zhang immediately loosened her grip and gently massaged Changle's head, but her tongue showed no mercy, "Serve you right!"
"Ahem." Zhu Maonian quickly played the mediator, "Didn't you have something to tell Father?"
"Let's go to Big Brother's room and talk together."
The hair was done just in time, and Lady Zhang immediately shooed her away, "Alright, off you go."
Zhu Changle ran to the door and hung onto it, "Father, Mother must be feeling shy. You should praise her more often."
"Zhu Changle!"
Zhu Changle vanished in an instant.
"Ahem, Changle is right. I've been remiss," Zhu Maonian held his wife's hand. "Thank you for all your hard work."
Lady Zhang's eyes immediately welled up with tears, but the smile on her face was as radiant as on their wedding day, "It's not hard at all. For you, for this family, I'm willing to do anything."
Zhu Maonian smiled, "The wine in Yunbei is indeed quite good. No wonder that little troublemaker loves to drink. Let's have a cup together tonight."
"Alright."
As the old couple lingered affectionately, the little troublemaker who had run ahead was already lying by the bedside, tattling to her big brother.
"Big Brother, don't you think Mother is being too much?"
Zhu Changwang held back his laughter, "You knew Mother was already embarrassed and still deliberately said that. You'd deserve a beating."
"If I get beaten, I'll run away from home!" Zhu Changle snorted, but remembering her mother's expression earlier, she started giggling again. So Mother likes hearing that kind of talk! In the future, she'll say it more, much more! And she'll make sure to say it when Father is around!
Zhu Changwang watched her mischievous smile with amusement. There was no doubt this little devil was plotting something against Mother. He needed to get better soon; he couldn't miss out on all the fun while lying in bed.
Zuo Qing's voice announcing his presence came from outside, and the siblings turned in unison to look at Zhu Maonian as he entered, making this veteran of decades in officialdom feel his face grow hot.
"You're so slow, Father must have been whispering sweet nothings to Mother."
Zhu Changwang nodded, "Changle is right."
"Don't you start joining in the teasing." Zhu Maonian pointed at both of them, then sat down on another stool by the bedside and examined his eldest son's complexion. "How are you today? You seem to be doing better."
"Much better, just still lacking in strength," Zhu Changwang patted Changle's head. "With Changle taking some of my burdens, I feel much more at ease."
"That's right, Big Brother. You just focus on getting better. You've got me!"
